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p16_Layout 1 1/7/15 10:49 PM Page 1 THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 SPORTS Smith joins greats as Aussies pressure India SYDNEY: Steve Smith joined the greats yester- day with his fourth century of the series as India hung in after the shock loss of an early wicket on the second day of the final Test in Sydney. The Aussie skipper became only the third batsman along with Don Bradman and Jacques Kallis to score tons in four consecutive Tests in the same series as his team posted a total beyond 500 for the fourth Test running. Smith contributed 117 in Australia’s first innings decla- ration of 572 for seven before the tourists were rocked by the third-ball dismissal of opener Murali Vijay for a duck. At the close, India had stabilised at 71 for one to trail Australia by 501 with Lokesh Rahul on 31 and Rohit Sharma hitting two sixes on his way to 40 not out. “I thought our whole top six played really well,” Smith said.”We’ve relied a lot on the tail in the last couple of Test matches and I said the batters had to step up in this match. “The whole top six got above fifty which I WELLINGTON: New Zealand pose for a photo after winning the match and the series don’t think has happened before. That’s out- against Sri Lanka on day five of the second international Test cricket match at the standing for us. “It’s not the kind of wicket I Basin Reserve. —AFP think where you can blast sides out. It’s about staying patient and hopefully the patience pays off.” NZ fight back to win Left-armer Mitchell Starc, bowling with fire and rhythm, slanted one across Vijay and coaxed a snick to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. Sri Lanka Test, series Starc may be in disciplinary trouble for giv- ing Vijay a big send-off, roaring in his face and waving his fists in a fiery opening over as WELLINGTON: New Zealand recovered the Test, tactfully refused to criticise the Mitchell Johnson’s injury replacement. from first innings turmoil to convincingly dismissal. “That’s the way it goes and unfor- But the day belonged to Smith, who added beat Sri Lanka by 193 runs in the second tunately, or fortunately, we have to take it another century to his unbeaten 162 in Test in Wellington yesterday and record a 2- as it comes,” he said, switching the blame Adelaide, 133 in Brisbane and 192 in Melbourne 0 series whitewash. for the “shocking turnaround” on poor in this series. Led by offspinner Mark Craig who took fielding including four let offs for “It’s been a pretty special summer for me four for 53, New Zealand ripped through Sri Williamson on his way to an unbeaten 242. personally, obviously with some of the results Lanka’s second innings after setting them a “If we had held on to our catches, it that I’ve got,” Smith said. “But look, I always put 390-run target. Sri Lanka were all out for would have been a different story. But they the team first, I think the success the team has 196, not helped by the questionable dis- were able to reverse the pressure on us and had over the last little bit has been outstanding missal of Kumar Sangakkara. we just couldn’t hold on,” he said. and we’re in another good position in this Test The batting maestro’s 203 paved the “Kane batted brilliantly, but we have to match.” way for Sri Lanka to hold a 135-run first grab those chances. We were under no real Australia passed 500 for the fourth Test of the innings lead and New Zealand were in dire pressure at the time... You can’t really drop series, a feat last registered against the Garry straits when they collapsed to be five down those sitters when you’re on the way to Sobers-led West Indies at home in 1968-69. SYDNEY: Australia’s Nathan Lyon (center) appeals to umpire Richard Kettleborough of England and only 24 runs ahead in their second winning the game and you are desperate Smith was out just before lunch when he was innings. But a world record sixth-wicket to win the game.” (bottom) for an LBW decision on India’s Rohit Sharma (third left) on the second day of their crick- caught behind off Umesh Yadav ending his 208- et Test match. —AP stand of 365 by Kane Williamson and BJ The tourists started the final day at 45 ball knock spiced with 15 fours. Watling turned the game in New Zealand’s for one with the options of playing for a He has 698 runs in the series at an average of pitch for India’s bowlers with Shami finishing The tourists have won only one of their favor, leaving Craig and quick bowlers Trent face-saving draw or playing for a win to 139.6, placing him third behind Bradman (715) with five for 112 off 28.3 overs. last 22 Tests overseas and have been suc- Boult and Doug Bracewell to polish off Sri save the series after losing the first Test in and Ricky Ponting (706) for most runs in a series India have already lost the Border-Gavaskar cessful in only one of their 10 Tests at the Lanka on the final day. “For so long we were Christchurch by eight wickets. Faint hopes against India. Trophy with Australia holding an unassailable 2- Sydney Cricket Ground, that sole victory miles behind the game and it took some- of a remarkable win vanished early when Smith is having an extraordinary purple 0 lead following wins in Adelaide and Brisbane. coming 37 years ago. —AFP thing pretty special for us to get out of Boult removed nightwatchman Dhammika patch and has now scored six centuries in the trouble firstly and then be allowed to dic- Prasad for six before continuing his domi- first innings of his last seven Tests at home. SCOREBOARD tate play,” New Zealand captain Brendon nance of Sangakkara to dismiss the Sri Watson again missed out on what would McCullum said. Lankan legend for five. have been only his fifth Test century when, on a SYDNEY: Scoreboard at the close of play on the second day of the fourth Test between Australia and India New Zealand sensed the win was on Bracewell finished the pre-lunch session flat SCG wicket, he had another brain snap and at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday: when both Sangakkara and Angelo with the crucial wicket of Kaushal Silva for hoisted Mohammed Shami straight to Mathews fell before lunch on the final day. 50 and then Mathews for eight with the Sri Ravichandran Ashwin at deep midwicket for 81. Australia 1st innings (overnight 348 for 2) Shami 28.3-3-112-5, Ashwin 47-8-142-1, Raina 16-3- “Both guys (are) capable of winning games Lankan skipper well caught one-handed by Watson has now scored 24 half-centuries but C. Rogers b Shami 95 53-0 Did not bat: M. Starc, N. Lyon, J. Hazlewood on their own, so to be able to get both of a diving Williamson in the gully. Williamson just four tons in 56 Tests, with his last Test hun- D. Warner c Vijay b Ashwin 101 those guys was huge and certainly at the was back in action after lunch to partner dred coming against England in Perth in S. Watson c Ashwin b Shami 81 India 1st innings lunch break we knew we were in with a big Craig in the dismissal of Prasanna December 2013. He toiled for 250 minutes and S. Smith c Saha b Yadav 117 M. Vijay c Haddin b Starc 0 sniff of being able to close out the game.” Jayawardene for 10 as the spinner came faced 183 balls in putting on 196 runs for the S. Marsh c Saha b Shami 73 There remained a question mark, how- into his own with a three-wicket burst. He L. Rahul not out 31 third wicket with Smith. J. Burns c Rahul b Shami 58 R. Sharma not out 40 ever, over Sangakkara’s caught behind dis- removed Dinesh Chandimal (13) and B. Haddin not out 9 Shaun Marsh added 73 to his 99 in Extras 0 missal. New Zealand wicketkeeper Watling Rangana Herath in successive balls. Melbourne before he was caught behind off R. Harris c Ashwin b Shami 25 Total (1 wicket, 25 overs) 71 did not initially join the appeal which was Bracewell celebrated his recall to the Shami nearing tea. Marsh batted for 116 balls Extras (lb6, w7) 13 turned down. New Zealand team after 14 months in the with nine fours and a six. Total (7 wickets dec, 152.3 overs) 572 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Vijay) However, McCullum sought a review wilderness with two for 25 and ran out Joe Burns, playing in his second Test, was Fall of wickets: 1-200 (Warner), 2-204 (Rogers), 3-400 Bowling: Starc 6-2-17-1, Harris 7-1-17-0, Hazlewood and it took multiple replays before the third Suranga Lakmal for six. Boult, New well caught by Rahul in the deep for 58 off 114 (Watson), 4-415 (Smith), 5-529 (Marsh), 6-546 4-1-10-0, Lyon 8-1-27-0 umpire Bruce Oxenford of Australia was Zealand’s premier bowler, finished with two balls and Ryan Harris roused the crowd with a (Burns), 7-572 (Harris) To bat: V.